Phlox plant named &#39;DOPHLOXEARPICA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Dophloxearpica’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; purple violet-colored flowers with red purple to purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPHLOXEARPICA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Dophloxearpica’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new early and freely-flowering Phloxplants with attractive flower color.

The new Phlox plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of aproprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code numberPA09-000167-004, not patented. The new Phlox plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within apopulation of plants of the mutation parent in a controlled environmentin Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since July, 2014 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dophloxearpica’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dophloxearpica’ as a new and distinct Phloxplant:

1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Early and freely flowering habit.

4. Purple violet-colored flowers with red purple to purple-coloredcenters.

5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the parentselection in flower color as plants of the new Phlox have purpleviolet-colored flowers with red purple to purple-colored centers whereasplants of the parent selection have dark purple violet-colored flowerswithout a contrasting-colored center.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata‘Sweet Summer Snow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new Phlox and ‘Sweet Summer Snow’ differ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Phlox are smaller than plants of ‘Sweet SummerSnow’.

2. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller leaves than plants of ‘SweetSummer Snow’.

3. Plants of the new Phlox are more freely flowering than plants of‘Sweet Summer Snow’.

4. Plants of the new Phlox flower about two weeks earlier than plants of‘Sweet Summer Snow’.

5. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers than plants of ‘SweetSummer Snow’.

6. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Sweet Summer Snow’ differ in flowercolor as plants of the new Phlox have purple violet-colored flowers withred purple to purple-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Sweet SummerSnow’ have white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plant of ‘Dophloxearpica’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 13-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperaturesaveraged 15° C. Plants were pinched one time about one week afterplanting rooted young plants and were three months old when thephotograph was taken and 20 weeks old when the description was taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Dophloxearpica’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary    selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number    PA09-000167-004, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days            at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown            as a container and garden plant; upright, outwardly            spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching, about            four to five primary lateral branches develop after            pinching. Length: About 26 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm            to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly            spreading. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A            tinged with close to 165A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 191A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 144D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 191A; venation, close to 193B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal and lateral            panicles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly; freely            flowering habit with about 50 to 55 flowers per            inflorescence and about 1,200 flowers developing per plant            during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about ten weeks after planting; plants            flower in July in The Netherlands; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 155A becoming closer to 64C            with development.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 12 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe            length: About 9 mm. Lobe width: About 9 mm. Lobe shape:            Roughly orbicular. Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire.            Lobe texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Throat texture: Pubescent; slightly rough. Tube texture:            Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 81D;            towards the apex and base, close to 74B; towards the            margins, close to 155D. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 81D; towards the margins, close to 155D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 81D; towards the margins, close to            155D; at the base, close to 74B; venation, close to 81D;            with development, color becoming closer to 81D. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 81D; towards the margins,            close to 155D; venation, close to 81D; with development,            color becoming closer to 81D. Throat: Close to 78B;            venation, close to 78B. Tube: Close to 78B; venation, close            to 78B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:            About 7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid.            Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146C.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146C            tinged with close to 187A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral            branch axis. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A tinged            with close to 165A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from peduncle            axis. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to            155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 8C.            Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft,            three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 8C. Style length: About            1.4 cm. Style color: Close to 144D with a purplish blush.            Ovary color: Close to 143A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from −20° C. to 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Dophloxearpica’as illustrated and described.